Assistant Director of Housing and Residential Life (A00722)

Live-In Requirement:

This position requires residence in a University-provided on-campus apartment as a condition of employment.

Job Summary:

Mercy University seeks a dynamic and energetic individual to join our team at the Dobbs Ferry Campus as an Assistant Director of Housing and Residential Life. The Assistant Director supports the day-to-day operations of the residential program, including staff supervision, student conduct, crisis response, and community development initiatives. The Assistant Director serves as an integral member of the departmental leadership team and works collaboratively to foster a safe, inclusive, and educationally purposeful living environment. This position involves on-call responsibilities, frequent evening and weekend hours, and active presence within the residential communities. Reporting to the Director of Housing and Residential Life, this role is a full-time, 12-month position responsible for the direct supervision and professional development of Resident Directors (RDs) and the overall management of residential communities. As Mercy celebrates its 75th anniversary, the University has implemented a bold set of goals and is committed to providing our students with world-class experiences, in and out of our classrooms. This individual will play a critical role in expanding the positive impact that a residential experience can have for our Mercy students.

Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities:

Directly supervises Resident Directors, providing consistent coaching, mentorship, and professional development support throughout the academic year. Conducts regular one-on-one meetings with each Resident Director to review individual caseloads, programming progress, staff performance, and professional goals. Supports the development, implementation, and assessment of a residential curriculum or intentional programming model that promotes student learning, community, and personal development. Guides Resident Directors in delivering co-curricular programming aligned with student development theory and institutional student success goals. Collaborates with Student Life, Academic Affairs, and other campus partners to provide seamless co-curricular experiences for residential students. Fosters an inclusive residential community that reflects the University's commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging. Serves as a first-level student conduct hearing officer for residence hall-related conduct cases, ensuring fair, consistent, and educational adjudication. Provides guidance and oversight to Resident Directors managing conduct cases within their communities, ensuring adherence to University policy and procedure. Monitors conduct trends across residential communities and shares relevant data and observations with the Director to inform policy review and staff training. Serves in the professional on-call rotation, responding to emergencies and critical incidents as the second-tier supervisor and professional responder. Provides immediate support, guidance, and follow-up to Resident Directors managing student crises, incidents, or emergency situations. Coordinates follow-up care and case management for students affected by critical incidents, connecting them with appropriate campus and community resources. Assists in reviewing and updating emergency response protocols and communicating procedures to residential staff through training. Supports the opening and closing of residential facilities at the start and end of each academic term, including coordination of staff, student staff, and volunteers during move-in and move-out processes. Assists with room assignment processes, occupancy management, and room change requests using StarRez or similar housing management software. Oversees the planning and execution of Health and Safety Inspections within assigned residential communities. Maintains awareness of facility issues within assigned areas and coordinates with Facilities Management to ensure timely resolution of maintenance and safety concerns. Plays an active role in the Resident Assistant selection process, including interviewing candidates and contributing to hiring decisions. Assists in the design and delivery of RA and professional staff training and in-service programs, ensuring all Residential Life staff are equipped to carry out their responsibilities effectively. Supports Resident Directors in providing ongoing supervision, feedback, and accountability to RAs within their respective communities. Participates in University-wide events including Orientation, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Open Houses, and Commencement, including evening and weekend commitments. Collaborates with colleagues on individual student issues while supporting broader departmental and divisional initiatives. Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills & Experience:

Minimum of 3 years of full-time Residential Life experience, with demonstrated growth in responsibilities. Supervisory experience, including direct supervision of professional staff preferred; experience supervising student staff required. Experience with student conduct administration and case management; familiarity with Maxient or similar conduct software preferred. Demonstrated ability to respond to crisis situations, including prior on-call experience in a residential setting. Experience facilitating staff training and delivering professional development programming for residential life staff. Familiarity with residential curriculum models and the application of student development theory in a residential context. Proficiency or experience with StarRez or similar housing management software platforms preferred. Experience participating in or collaborating with Behavioral Intervention, CARE, or Threat Assessment teams preferred. Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse campus constituencies. Demonstrated commitment to inclusion; ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with tact and discretion.

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree in student affairs, higher education administration, or related field preferred.